Compressibility and Turbulence Effects Due to Airfoil Clocking in Axial Compressors

Axial compressors have inherently unsteady flow fields because of relative motion between rotor and stator airfoils. This relative motion leads to viscous and inviscid (potential) interactions between blade rows. As the number of stages increases in a turbomachine, the buildup of convected wakes can lead to progressively more complex wake/wake and wake/airfoil interactions. Variations in the relative circumferential positions of stators or rotors can change these interactions, leading to different unsteady forcing functions on airfoils and different compressor efficiencies. In addition, as the Mach number increases the interaction between blade rows is intensified due to potential effects. The current study uses an unsteady, two-dimensional Navier-Stokes approach to investigate the unsteady aerodynamics of stator clocking in a 1-1/2 stage compressor, typical of high-pressure compressors used in advanced commercial jet engines. The effects of turbulence are modeled with both algebraic and two-equation models. Results include surface pressures, efficiencies, boundary layer quantities and turbulence quantities. In addition, the growth of turbulence and the effects of compressibility on airfoil are discussed.